After more than a year of arranging my journey, it was finally time for my first ever visit to Karachi, Pakistan. Traveling from Dubai with Flydubai made me feel both excited and a little bit anxious. Pakistan is not really considered as a popular place for tourists from the West, and I received a lot of alerts about security before my trip. Nevertheless, some of my friends who visited there had a lot of positive impressions from Pakistan, especially about their hospitality.
It was way more complicated to apply for a visa than I am used to with my German passport. The process took one week and $100, and required a letter of invitation from the travel agency. But after arriving in Karachi I was surprised at how easy it was to enter Pakistan. It took just a few minutes for the immigration procedures to be completed, and we were outside with my backpack soon.
The first problem I faced was getting cash. I found the ATM in the airport but unfortunately it did not accept my cards. Fortunately for me, I installed an eSIM before leaving Dubai which let me get online and book a Careem ride to my hotel.
My first view of Karachi occurred during the ride from the airport, where I noted the number of armed guards, police, and checkpoints visible. I found that my hotel also maintained tight security with metal detectors and guard dogs.
After checking into the Marriott Karachi, I was pleased to find a nicely designed room with brown walls. The hotel offered comfortable accommodations for the night.
The next day, after successfully locating a bank to get cash, I wandered out into the city. I was struck by how friendly everyone appeared. People welcomed me with smiles and waves and were proactive in offering help with any signs of confusion.
One of the highlights of my expedition was tasting my first real Pakistani food. I stopped at a small eatery and ordered beef kebabs with fresh bread. The kebabs were made of meat marinated in a blend of herbs and spices and grilled over charcoal. They had an amazing taste that was both tender and mild in spice content. I particularly enjoyed the yogurt sauce served with the dish, along with another sauce with spicy chili.
The portion size was so big that I was unable to consume all of the food. Therefore, instead of discarding it, I took the leftovers to a local man. This was a simple moment yet this moment contributed to the warmth of the experience.
Strolling in Karachi also gave a lot of new encounters with interesting things; from beautifully colored rickshaws and non-traditional motorcycles to a street artist with a snake. Even ordinary streets of Karachi seem to deliver some unforgettable happenings.
By the end of the day, I started to lose my initial anxiety. Karachi turned out to be a busy, crazy, interesting, and, above all, hospitable city.
